We have just finished lunch after attending the Eucharist service at church this morning. This is Epiphany Sunday and, as such, the priest marked the doorframe of the church sanctuary with chalk.
20✞C✞M✞B✞25
Wrapped within the new year are initials for the traditional names of the magi (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) separated by crosses to represent Christ. The letters also stand for Christus mansionem benedicat, translated as “may Christ bless this house.” We brought a piece of chalk home to prayerfully mark our own door with these symbols, too. This is a new tradition for us. It is a beautiful way to start off a new year and one I expect we’ll continue.
Gerry has just started a new jigsaw puzzle—one we received from our daughter and granddaughter for Christmas. We finished another one this morning. This one looks far more challenging. I expect we’ll be at it for a good long while.
I’m sitting with my feet up and a sleeping Yorkie on my lap. I’m troubled by a painful foot issue today—one that, I confess, made it difficult to pay attention at church earlier. I’ve taken a couple of painkillers and am giving it rest. This too shall pass.
I’m not ready to step back into the pre-Christmas routine yet. Are you? A few years ago I decided to give myself permission to lie fallow in January (after one of you left a comment here on a post where I lamented my lack of motivation in the first month of the year.) I embrace it now. I will spend more time out of my woman cave than in it for the next few weeks and will be slow in replying to emails.
It’s been bitterly cold here in Saskatchewan, but the weather prognosticators are saying we might climb to zero on Wednesday. (Celsius, that is. That’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit.) Gerry’s already talking about planning a hike with his group. For the past few weeks, the cold weather has persuaded us to stay home more often than not. These have been sweet, slow days.
We’ll head back to classes at the fitness center this week. I’m looking forward to attending a new writing group. We each have travel plans in the coming weeks (separately, this time). The gardening groups on Facebook are already talking about starting seeds. February will be here before we know it. I spent years being busy at this time of year and now, having been given the opportunity, make no apologies for choosing a slow start to the new year.
So, for now, quiet days are the name of the game. Days filled with books, time to let my mind wander, mugs of hot chocolate or tea, and maybe a needle felting project. (I’m also browsing Wayfair and looking forward a piece of wall art for the living room but find the volume of choices overwhelming, so might abandon this activity for now.)
And there’s also that jigsaw puzzle. We just might finish it by spring.
What a contrast to our January Linda. My grandson is currently in Quebec City and says that the cold is unlike anything he has felt before. He much prefers our summer heat, although loving his time in Canada. Today my husband and I will be lunching in a restaurant overlooking the Indian Ocean, with the brilliant blue of the sky and sea as a backdrop. We could do with a bit of your cold as it will be scorching hot!
Oh my. I imagine the Canadian cold is something new for your grandson! I have a picture in my mind of you and your husband in the restaurant overlooking the ocean. What a treat!
It’s in the 20s (F) here in eastern New York and I’m embracing Winter now that I’m retired and dont’ have to bundle up 10 special needs prek kiddoes to play in the snow. Of course we HAVE no snow…just a dusting here in the Capital Region of NY, unlike the central part of the state and out by the great lakes. haha
I’m practicing the Hygge method this winter and I must say i’m loving the slow routine although my library book club begins tomorrow, the small group I lead begins again Tues evening and the class i take at church on Wed begins next week! But overall, it’s a super slow month for me. Of course hubby still works so…..I plan a few day trips for just my self.
Enjoy those solitary day trips!
What a cozy image you have described! I think it all sounds wonderful!
Thank you for stopping by! I wish for you a measure and balance of slow as we ease into a new year too.
Our previous parish priest had initiated the chalk-marking tradition one year but we never saw it after, so it’s nice hearing that you’ve adopted it. I think you’re doing everything right by not rushing back into busy lanes. Slow times are good for the soul.
Indeed, slow is soul-refreshing. Wishing you a measure of slow days too.